By IANS, [RxPG] Balasore -, May 9 - The Indian Army Wednesday successfully conducted a user trial of the surface-to-surface medium-range Prithvi-1 missile from a military base in Orissa, an official said.

The missile soared at 10.40 a.m. from launch complex no. 3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district, 230 km from Bhubaneswar, a scientist involved in the launch said.

'This was the test of a limited series production - missile. It was selected at random from the Indian Army's inventory,' he added.

Prithvi is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation -. Prithvi-1 has already been inducted with the Indian Army's Hyderabad-based 333 Missile Regiment.

'The recent successful test firings of the Agni, BrahMos, Dhanush and Astra missiles moved us to conduct a user trial of Prithvi-1,' the scientist said.

The 8.56-metre-high and one metre thick missile, with a launch weight of 4.4 tonnes excluding the payload, has a range of 50-150 km. It can carry a 1,000 kg payload.

Powered by two side-by-side liquid propellant motors that provide aerodynamic control and thrust vectoring, the missile rises to an altitude of 30 km and homes in on its target at an 80-degree angle.

DRDO scientists and officers of the 333 Missile Regiment were among those who witnessed the launch.